Alera walked a step behind Pyris, her cheeks flushed and her movements unusually quiet. Zara smirked at her, clearly enjoying the rare sight of Alera, the proud and unflinching "Shadow of the Forgotten (Forgotten Shadow)," looking so flustered.
"Well, someone's had a productive break," Zara teased in a low whisper as they walked.
Alera's head snapped toward her, eyes narrowing. "Say another word, and you'll wish for the labyrinth's traps instead of me."
"Oh, threats now? I'm shaking." Zara's grin widened, her tone as calm as ever.
Lyra, who was walking a bit further ahead, kept her focus straight but couldn't hide the slight twitch of her lips. Seren, on the other hand, was scowling outright.
"You could at least keep your antics private," Seren muttered, shooting Pyris a sharp glare.
Pyris, utterly unbothered, adjusted his coat. "I don't see what the big deal is. Focus on the labyrinth; it's not like the traps care about our personal lives."
